MINUTIA
How do you prevent the minutia from taking over in everyday life? The laundry to fold, the groceries to pick up, the dog poop in the back yard, the package to drop off at the post office. The schedules to coordinate, the dog sitter to book, the bills to update on auto-pay, the scuffs on the wall to touch up with paint. These things can take over our time, our thoughts, and our conversations if we let them.
I know that these details are part of everyday life. Our life is made up of the moments, after all.
However, as an ENFP, I hate the minutia. I dislike talking about and thinking about logistics. I don’t want to dwell on details.
Instead, I want to dream big. I want to think about projects and possibilities. I want to tap into inspiration and the things that move me. I want to reflect on how we might put a dent in some of the big problems we face in our world.
And yet, the details exist. The minutia remains. In many cases, we need the details in order to do the projects and have the space and capacity to create from.
What can it look like to have the details taken care of, while creating time and space for dreaming big, thinking ahead to the future, and solving real and important problems? What can it look like to accept and honor the place of the details, but in a way that doesn’t take over? How can we prevent the details and the minutia and the mechanics of everyday life from taking over conversations and thoughts and romances? What can it look like to tap into spirit while still getting the laundry done? To dream big and still empty the dishwasher? To put a positive dent in the world while still picking up the dog poop in the backyard?
This is an ever-present balance I’m trying to hold. I don’t always succeed. And, here are a few things I’m trying.
Create time each morning for the big stuff - writing, thinking, reflecting, and dreaming big. While this is something I’ve always done since starting my business, it feels increasingly important as there are more and more logistics than ever with this whole thing that we can summarize as #adulting.
Put the logistics into a specific container - a daily scrum, which houses all things that are logistical in nature. Logistics are reserved for the scrum and the scrum only, except in cases of high urgency that require discussion sooner.
Outsource. While outsourcing often involves hiring someone to help with the logistical components of life or business, it can also involve doing a trade, or other creative options. Clients have shared creative ways they’ve structured trades for childcare; other friends trade services such as help with yard work in exchange for help with painting. *Note: I recognize that this bullet, in particular, assumes some level of privilege - whether hiring someone, or doing a trade. It assumes that we have some level of discretion with our money and our time.
Hold the logistics lightly. It’s easy to let the logistics and the minutia take over if we let them. And, at the end of the day, there’s fluidity with most of them. It doesn’t really matter all that much if we empty the dishwasher at night or in the morning; if we get all of the laundry done before we leave the house or if we save some for later; if the package gets to the post office on Friday rather than today.
What about you? What are some of the ways that you allow the details and the logistics and the minutia to be taken care of, without taking over entirely? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
